[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

I'm not well after that, longest 5 minutes ever

Because it was six Ireland

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Cherie

Because it was six Ireland

felt like about 17 to me

[James]

Qualified: Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia, Panama

In the play-offs: Peru, Honduras

Out: Chile, United States

[Locke.]

This will be a huge blow to the growing interest in football in the US. Heads are going to roll.

[Nicky91]

who cares about the world cup anymore

[BBfanUSA]

Originally Posted by Locke.

This will be a huge blow to the growing interest in football in the US. Heads are going to roll.

Okay Big Wall o' text time.

As an American, heads needed to for any change to actually happen. I'm nervous that the wrong people will get control and they'll destroy everything from Top to Bottom. I don't think there's going to be much damage as people think. Because FOX spent 200 Million and banked on casual fans and FIFA is going to miss out on American sponsors and such.
FIFA could actually step in and actually enforce their rules but they won't :P

MLS has been stable for years, it's going to be the scapegoat. MLS isn't the problem (Hell various players that scored for Honduras and Panama play in the MLS, Roman Torres comes to mind as he plays for Seattle Sounders, was pivotal in helping the Sounders win the MLS Cup final) it's the structure. NASL and MLS need to work together and both need to be willing to make sacrifices. Also Pro/Rel Needs to be implemented.

Practically everyone over here from speakerheads to the biggest US SG/SC, the American Outlaws, is calling for USSF's president, Sunil Gulati, to resign. ESPN had Taylor Twellman (Major US side pundit, former player as well) on full blast right after.

Gulati is up for election and will likely not get reelected now. The elections are in I think...December or Feburary. A couple people already threw their hat into the ring. A Board of like 7-9 people

The manager Bruce Arenas was essentially a caretaker, might coach the rest of the friendlies for the rest of the year but he'll likely be gone soon as well. Should resign tho.

Offer an olive branch to Jurgen Klinssman and bring him back as the Technical Director, he's horrible at tactics but he's the perfect guy to build our youth system even further and brought in a bunch of dual nationals as the head coach. (There's always been a question of whether he's American enough despite being German. I Dunno, I think he is. I think he does have US Citizenship along with German, Wife's American and his son plays for the US Nationally as a goalkeeper, pretty decent one at that, started off horrid but has come around, he's currently injured tho.)

I don't want to really see any player over 28 that played yesterday play for the US ever again, even for a testimonial game, unless they're Clint Dempsey, (He actually tried to score)

Pulisic is going to grow more and more within the next couple of years or so, under Dortmund's system. He'll be the cornerstone of the New team, Wood, Yedlin, Brooks (one of the German-American Dual Nats). All play in European leagues (Yedlin plays for Newcastle, the rest for German clubs)

Our U20 team had a great showing at the U20 WC, and won the u20 CONCACAF tourney as well, which is a first for them. Our u17 team is leading their group at the u17 World Cup right now. Beat the hosts 3-0 and Ghana 1-0. We have George Weah's son playing for us, pretty decent kid and is in PSG's Academy. and Josh Sargent actually played for both the U-20 and U-17 Teams as well, signed with a German Club or provisionally has since he's not 18 yet.

[Shaun]

happy that Sanchez is doing nothing next year

Panama are an interesting proposition, glad we're getting a steady stream of World Cup newbies to support as a neutral when we inevitably finish 3rd in the groups.

[Denver]

I hope somehow Congo snatch qualification

[Drew.]

Alexis FINALLY gets a summer off so he'll be fit and raring to go come the start of the season and he wont bloody be with us.

Had to laugh at the USA not making it. I follow quite a few American journalists and football fans on twitter and a majority of them were getting waaay too ahead of themselves thinking they were better than they were like they were guaranteed a spot in Russia and hyping up Pulisic as if he was Messi reincarnated. Don't get me wrong Pulisic is brilliant but this has been a huge reality check for those yanks

[BBfanUSA]

Everyone's calling for Sunil Gulati's resignation and both Taylor Twellmann and Alexi Lalas had epic rants on TV. There's going to be a press conference on Friday but I don't think

There's a presidental election for the USSF in Feburary in Orlando and there were two other guys running already, could be more now. Both are pushing for Grassroots soccer

Those voting are the main board, a coaches board, a player's board, and a fan council as well.

The Main board is the only one that can fire him though.

The president has alot of work to do, I think we'll likely qualify for 2022 as long as they don't make all the MLS clubs fold. MLS is still a well established brand and destroying it will not help anything. (Eurosnobs are just as bad as MLS homers IMO)

[James]

Here's the European play-offs for anyone interested:

Northern Ireland v Switzerland
Croatia v Greece
Denmark v Rep of Ireland
Sweden v Italy.

[Niamh.]

Denmark is probably the best we could have hoped for

[Shaun]

Think both Irelands have good draws there. Italy and Croatia should walk the others

[James]

First-leg results.

Croatia 4-1 Greece
Northern Ireland 0-1 Switzerland

Here's the World Cup ball, btw - The Telstar 18.

[King Gizzard]

the ball is horrible

[King Gizzard]

Loftus Cheek starting for England. I’ve not really kept up with the Premier League this season to know if he’s played much/been good

[James]

Originally Posted by King Gizzard

the ball is horrible

They originally painted some segments black so that it showed up better on black-and-white TV.

[King Gizzard]

There was a silver Adidas one for a competition when I was a teenager, must have been for a Euros, that was my favourite

[King Gizzard]

Euro 2004, seeing it again it’s not that great but I guess it’s just memories

[King Gizzard]

The total 90 ball with the circle pattern also great

[Locke.]

Manolas will be back for the 2nd leg, unbelievable seeing what has happened to that defence when he misses 1 game. Greece will probably keep a clean sheet at home but not convinced they can score 3.

[James]

[King Gizzard]

Just seen the Netherlands lineup from last night, depressing to see how bad it is now

[James]

Originally Posted by King Gizzard

Just seen the Netherlands lineup from last night, depressing to see how bad it is now

Forgot that match was on.

[Shaun]

the 2002 WC and 2004 Euro balls